Radisson Hotels: Ownership, Ratings, and Comparisons

If you are researching Radisson hotels, the first thing to understand is that “Radisson” is a brand family, not a single uniform hotel product. Ownership is divided by region, and star ratings vary by individual property. This guide answers the most common Radisson hotel questions using official corporate sources, property pages, and established industry reporting — so you can separate brand-level facts from property-specific realities before you book.

Last checked: 2026-10-10

Global hotels: 1,100+ · Typical rating: 4-star (Radisson Blu) · Typical amenities: Fitness club, pool, spa, award-winning dining, corporate facilities · Key locations in inputs: Limerick, Cork, Athlone, Dhaka

Who owns Radisson?

The short answer depends on which region you are asking about. A Radisson Hotel Group corporate history explains that the brand’s modern ownership structure emerged from a long chain of acquisitions. Curt Carlson acquired the Minneapolis Radisson Hotel in 1962, and the Carlson family built the brand from there. In 1994, Carlson signed a franchise agreement with SAS International Hotels for the Radisson brand in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa — a relationship that later produced the Radisson SAS co-brand, which became Radisson Blu.

According to the same corporate history, Carlson acquired a 25% stake in The Rezidor Hotel Group in 2005, later increasing its ownership to 51%. The business operated as Carlson Rezidor until 2018, when it adopted the Radisson Hotel Group name. The group’s official history then records that a consortium led by Jin Jiang International Holdings completed the acquisition of shares in Radisson Hospitality AB.

The implication: Radisson Hotel Group — not a single real-estate owner — controls the brand outside the Americas, while individual properties may be owned by separate investors and operated under franchise or management agreements. CoStar reporting on the Jin Jiang ownership structure confirms this layered arrangement: the corporate group controls the brand, but the hotel buildings themselves are often owned by third parties.

In the Americas, the picture changed in June 2022. A joint announcement by Choice Hotels International and Radisson Hotel Group stated that Choice agreed to acquire Radisson Hotel Group Americas’ franchise business, operations, and intellectual property for approximately $675 million. The transaction covered the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Choice Hotels now independently owns and controls the Radisson brands in the Americas, while Radisson Hotel Group continues to control the brand portfolio outside the Americas — subject to its own corporate ownership structure and local agreements.

Is Radisson a luxury hotel?

The answer is: it depends on which brand within the Radisson family you choose. The group’s official brand-development page positions the portfolio in distinct segments. Radisson Collection is the group’s luxury-oriented tier, while Radisson Blu sits in the upscale segment — typically comparable to a 4-star property. The core Radisson brand sits below that, and Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson occupy the midscale and economy segments.

One example illustrates the property-level variation: the Radisson Collection Cour des Loges Lyon page displays a 4.5 review score from 1,734 reviews and ranks the property at number 21 among 166 hotels in Lyon at the time indexed. That is a specific property’s performance, not a chain-wide guarantee. The official property page states that guest-review scores are property-specific and should not be treated as proof of quality across every Radisson hotel.

What this means: Radisson is not a single-tier brand. The group’s own materials describe a portfolio where facilities, service levels, and ratings vary by property, market, and franchise arrangement. “Radisson” alone tells you little about the expected experience.

Which is better: Radisson, Hilton, or Marriott?

This comparison depends heavily on the specific property and segment you are evaluating. Hilton and Marriott both operate more luxury-tier properties at the top of their portfolios, while Radisson’s flagship upscale brand is Radisson Blu. The group’s brand-architecture page shows that Radisson’s position concentrates in the upscale and midscale segments, with select luxury via Radisson Collection.

Radisson’s competitive advantage often appears in pricing and consistency rather than top-tier luxury. The brand has more than 75 years of hospitality experience, according to its corporate history, and its broad portfolio means it competes across multiple segments simultaneously. A comparison based only on the word “Radisson” can conceal substantial differences in positioning, amenities, and price — the same is true for Hilton and Marriott, both of which also operate multiple sub-brands.

The bottom line: Instead of asking which chain is “better,” compare specific properties within the relevant segment. A Radisson Blu in one city may differ significantly from a Radisson Collection in another, and the same holds for Hilton Garden Inn versus Waldorf Astoria, or Marriott Courtyard versus St. Regis.

What are the levels of Radisson hotels?

The group’s official brand-development page identifies ten distinctive brands across different positioning tiers. Radisson Collection is the luxury-oriented segment. Radisson Blu is the upscale tier, typically corresponding to a 4-star property. The core Radisson brand sits in the upper-midscale range. Radisson RED is a lifestyle-focused brand with a more contemporary, trendy positioning. Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson occupy the midscale and economy segments, with Country Inn & Suites often serving extended-stay needs.

The historical development of these tiers is significant. The Radisson SAS co-brand from the 1994 Carlson-SAS franchise agreement later became Radisson Blu, which is now one of the group’s most recognized international sub-brands. Hospitality ON’s company profile notes that the Radisson Blu Hotel Beijing was reported as the first Radisson hotel in China, opening in 1995, and Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport opened in 1998 as the first in India. Asia-Pacific operations have included regional headquarters in Singapore.

What to watch: The brand architecture is broad enough that a comparison based only on the word “Radisson” can conceal substantial differences in positioning, amenities, and price. Always identify which sub-brand you are booking.

“Radisson Hotel Group is an international hotel group with ten distinctive hotel brands, counting more than 1,640 hotels in operation and under development in EMEA & APAC.”

— Radisson Hotel Group, Corporate organization

“Choice Hotels will independently own and control the brands in the Americas.”

— Choice Hotels International and Radisson Hotel Group, Transaction announcement

Frequently asked questions about Radisson hotels

What the data says: verified Radisson facts

For further reading, see our related property guides: The Londoner Hotel Guide and Best Western Plus Hotel Universo Rome.